Electric time recorder



Feb. 26, 1946. A? .1. FINDLAY 1 ELECTR-IC TIME RECORDER Filed March 6, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l I \5 INVEhiTOR ALBER'IZ'LFI NDLAY.

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Feb. '26, 1 946. A, F Y 2,395,781

ELECTRIC TIME RECORDER Filed March 6, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TO R ALBERT-J.FINDLAY ATTORNEYS A. J. FINDLAY ELECTRIC T IME RECORDER Fel'hu 4 Sheets-61 .99%. 5

Filed March 6, 1943 INVENTOR ALBERI J- FINDLAY ATTORNH Feb. 26, 1946.

HKBBOH GUIDEMAGNET A. J. FINDLAY ELECTRIC TIME RECORDER Filed Web 6, i945 RIBBON FEED MAGHE'I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'mvsm'oa Amaamnnnm ATTORN EYS Patented Feb. 26, 1946 2,395,781 ELECTRIC TIME RECORDER Albert J. Findlay, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as-

signor to John B. Frosst and Eliot S. Frosst, both of Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application March 6, 1943,Serial No. 473304 In Canada December 5, 1942 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric time recordersof the card actuated type.

Conventional electric time recorders of the card actuated type are designed so that the insertion of a workmans time card in a suitable receiver provided for this purpose establishes electrical connections resulting in the energization of a single, large, heavy-duty electro-magnet which furnishes all the power for operating the ribbon feed mechanism, the ribbon feed reversing mechanism, the printing hammer operating mechanism, the card receiver operating mechanism which functions to shift the card receiver from the in to the out position, and, in the case of a recorder equipped with a two-color ribbon, the mechanism whereby differently colored portions of the ribbon are selectively positioned in line with the printing hammer according to whether the workmans card is inserted in the receiver during "working hours or non-working hours. The operation of all these mechanisms by a single magnet not only makes it necessary to use a large, heavy-duty magnet but also requires an elaborate and complicated arrangement of mechanical parts which adds greatly to the cost of building the recorder and maintaining it in good working order. Moreover, since the mechanisms referred to operate simultaneously at certain times and in delayed sequence at other times, the magnet used must necessarily be a heavy-duty magnet and must be supplied with sufficient current to take care of the peak load conditions which obtain when said magnet is called upon to operate several of said mechanisms simultaneously. This means that,

most of the time, the current supplied to the magnet is greatly in excess of actual requirements.

With the foregoing in mind one object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved time recorder of the card actuated type in which the component parts of each of the mechanisms previously referred to are simplified and reduced in number in such manner that such mechanisms are rendered more compact and less expensive to build and maintain in good working order.

Another object is to provide a generally improved electric time recorder of the card actuated type in which relatively small separate electromagnets are provided for operating (a) the ribbon feed mechanism and the ribbon reversing mechanism; (b) the printing hammer; and (c) the ribbon guide mechanism whereby differently colored portions oi the ribbon are selectively positioned in line with the printing hammer according to the time at which the card is inserted in the card receiver. These magnets take only a small amount of current and are connected in circuit with suitable control switches including card actuated switches arranged in the card receiver so that they are energized only when required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the dial of th time clock associated with the recorder is illuminated whenever the workmans card is inserted in the card receiverduring working hours thus calling the workmans attention to the fact that he is going in or out at an irregular or working hour.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the insertion of the workmans card in the receiver during working hours actuates audible signalling means warning both the workman and the timekeeper that the workmaning the card printing operation.

Other objects, advantages, and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing, more or less diagrammatically, the relative arrangement of the component parts of the improved time recorder provided in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the printing wheels and the ribbon feed mechanism omitted in order to show more clearly the arrangement of the receiver switches and the means provided for operating the ribbon guide.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner in which the ribbon guide magnet and the control switches associated with said magnet are connected in circuit with one of the receiver switches. This view also illustrates the manner in which the clock illuminating lamp is connected in parallel with the ribbon guide magnet.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the manner in which the various magnets and contact switches provided in accordance with the invention are connected in circuit with a source of current.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the printing hammer and card cutting knife assembly per se.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ribbon guide and its'electric magnet operating means.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the time clock showing the dial illuminating lamp associated therewith.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the disc assembly which controls the opening and closing of the ribbon guide control switches.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the assembly shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a view showing the type of workmans card which is inserted in the card receiver to close the card actuated switches located therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates a conventional card receiver equipped with normally open card actuated control switches 8 and 1 arranged at opposite sides there of. Switch 6 comprises normally separated spring contacts 8 and 9, a switch closing spring l and a pivotally mounted card actuated abutment member II, the latter being pivoted to the card receiver at I2 and being normally held in its uppermost position by the underlying spring l0. Switch 1 comprises normally separated spring contacts I3 and I4 and a switch closing lever |5, the latter being pivoted at its upper end as indi cated at |6 and having its lower end arranged to force the contact l4 into engagement with the contact l3 when said lever is swung outwardly in the direction of switch 1. Intermediate its upper and lower ends lever I is provided with a projection ll adapted to be engaged and forced out wardly by the side edge of a card inserted in the receiver 5.

The preferred type of card provided for inser tion in receiver 5 is indicated at 20 in Fig. 10. This card, which is adapted to receive the printed time impressions, is ruled oil" and printed in any conventional or desired manner and is provided with a notch 2| at one of its upper corners. It is inserted in receiver 5 in an inverted position so that abutment member i is received in notch 2| and is forced downwardly by the upper edge of said notch to depress spring l0 and thereby close the normally separated contacts 8 and 9 of switch 6. Just before switch 6 is thus closed the side edge of the card remote from notch 2| engages projection ll of lever 15 and causes said lever to be swung outwardly thereby forcing spring contact |4 into engagement with contact |3 to close switch I.

If the inverted card is accidentally inserted in the receiver 5 so that the un-cut lower corner of the inverted card is positioned to engage and depress the abutment H the switch 6 will close but switch I will remain open since when the card has been forced down to its lowermost position the projection ll of lever |5 will be accommodated in the notch 2| without causing the lever |5 to be swung outwardly to its switch closing position. It will thus be seen that the provision of the notch 2| ensures that the inverted card must be properly inserted in the receiver 5 to close both of the card actuated switches 5 and 1.

As shown more particularly in Fig. l, the card receiver 5 is arranged so that the card inserted therein is interposed between the ribbon 23 and the printing hammer 24 of a card printing and cutting mechanism generally indicated at 25. The ribbon 23 is trained around guide posts 26 located at opposite sides of the card receiver 5 and has its ends wound on feed spools 21 and 28 which are fixed to rotate with the vertically extending spool driving shafts 21a and 28a. These shafts are journalled in suitable bearings 30 and are respectively equipped with ratchet wheels 3| and 32. A pawl 33 is pivotally mounted on a pawl carrying plate 34 adjacent one end of said plate and constitutes the driving pawl for the ratchet 3|. A similar pawl 35 is pivotally mounted on plate 34 adjacent the opposite end thereof and constitutes the driving pawl for ratchet 32. The pawls 33 and 35 are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by biasing springs 31 and 38, these springs being connected between the pawls and the plate 34 as shown in the drawings, or in any other suitable manner. The pawl carrying plate 34 is mounted on a supporting plate 39 so that it is capable of longitudinal movement with respect to said supporting plate. In this connection it will be noted that pawl carrying plate 34 is slidably secured to its supporting plate 39 by screws 4| working in elongated guide slots 42. When the pawl carrying plate 34 is positioned as shown in Fig. 1 the pawl 33 is disposed in driving engagement with the ratchet wheel 3| of the spool driving shaft 21a and the pawl 35 is disposed out of driving engagement with the ratchet wheel 32 of the spool driving shaft 28a. The pawl plate 34 is yieldingly held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the plate projection 43 and the engaging roller .4, the latter being carried by the free end of an arm 45 having its opposite end pivoted, as at 46, to the supporting plate 39. The free or roller carrying end of arm 45 is secured to plate 39 by a spring 41 which normally serves to hold the roller 44 in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The plate 39 is mounted on'suitable supports 48 so that said plate is capable of bodily movement in the direction of its width. In this connection it will be noted that plate 39 is provided with transversely extending slots 49 to receive guide projections 50 which extend upwardly from the supports 48 and serve to guide plate 39 in its lateral movement.

Plate 39 is provided with an extension 52 located substantially midway between the ends of said plate. Thi extension 52 is provided with slots 53 in which are fitted the arms 54 of a fork 55 provided at the upper end of a lever 56 which is intermediately pivoted to swing about a pivot shaft 57. The lower end of lever 56 is provided with a laterally extending pin 58 which is fitted in a slot 59 provided in the armature of an electro-magnet 6| which is mounted in a suitable frame 62, said lever 56 and armature 68 being positioned as shown in Fig. 1 when the magnet 6| is in its normal or deenergized condition.

As hereinafter described, the closure of switches 6 and 1 by insertion of a card 28 in receiver 5 establishes circuit connections whereby the ribbon feed magnet 6| is energized to move the armature 60 to the left. The resulting swinging movement of lever 56 causes the supporting plate 39 and its associated pawl carrying plate 34 to be moved to the right as a unit, thus causing the pawl 33 engaging the ratchet wheel 3| to effect a partial revolution of the ribbon spool 21 whereby a predetermined portion of the ribbon is wound on the spool 21 and a corresponding portion is unwound from the spool 28. This feeding of the ribbon from spool 28 to spool 21 occurs each time a card is inserted in the receiver 5 to close the switches 6 and 1 until all the ribbon has been unwound from the spool 28 with the exception of the end of the ribbon which is anchored to said spool. When this condition obtains the tensioning of the ribbon between spools 21 and 28 prevents further turning of spool 21. Consequently, during the next movement of the plates 39 and 34 in a ribbon feeding direction the pawl 33 fulcrums on the stationary ratchet 3| and causes the pawl carrying plate 34 to be shifted in the direction of the spool 28 until the pawl 35 is engaged with the ratchet 32 and the pawl 33 disengaged with the ratchet 3|. As the pawl carrying plate 34 is thus moved in the direction of the spool 28 the roller 44 is forced out of the way of the leading sloping edge of the plate projection 43 and then springs back to engage the trailing sloping edge of said projection to assist in completing the movement of the plate 34 necessary to engage the pawl 35 with the ratchet 32. When the plate 34 has thus been shifted to engage the pawl 35 with the ratchet 32 subsequent operations of the plates 39 and 34 by the ribbon feed magnet 6I cause the ribbon to be fed from the spool 21 to the spool 28 until all the ribbon has been wound on the spool 28 with the exception of the end of the ribbon which is anchored to the spool 21. When this last named condition occurs the pawl 35 fulcrums on the stationary ratchet 32 and causes the pawl carrying plate 34 to be shifted back to the position shown in Fig. 1.

That portion of the ribbon which travels between the guide posts 26 is threaded through a vertically movable ribbon guide 65 which lies be tween the type wheels 66 and the adjacent side of the card receiver 5. The type Wheels 66 are mounted and operated in accordance with conventional procedure and form no part of the present invention. The ribbon guide 65 is fastened to portions 65a of the frame structure (see Fig. 2) by guide screws 61 working in guide slots 68 which permit the ribbon guide to be raised and lowered as hereinafter described. In this connection it will be noted that ribbon 23 is a twocolor ribbon, the upper half being blue and the lower half being red. The ribbon guide is normally positioned so that the upper or blue half of the ribbon is in line with the printing hammer 24. If, with the ribbon in this position. the card is inserted in the receiver between certain nonworking hours, say, from 12:00 to 1:00 o'clock, the time indication made on the card will be made in blue. If, however, a card is inserted in the receiver during the working hours of the employee suitable circuit connections are established for operating electro-magnetic means whereby, prior to the printing operation, the ribbon guide 65 is raised to position the red portion of the ribbon in line with the printing hammer 24, thus causing the time impression to be printed on the card in red, indicating that the impression was made during the employers time. In the present instance the electro-magnetic operating means provided for thus raising the ribbon guide 65 to the red printing position comprises a pair of lifting arms 12 extending laterally from a rock shaft 13 and having their free ends fitted in the ribbon guide slots 1311-. The rock shaft 13 is mounted in suitable bearings 16 (Fig. 1) and carries an armature 11 which projects laterally therefrom in a direction opposite the direction of the arms 12. The armature 71 is fastened to the rock shaft 13 by a screw 11a which permits the armature to be turned about said shaft to "ary the clearance between the free ends of the armature and its operating magnet which is indicated at 18. When the magnet 18 is energized by the insertion of a card in the receiver during the employees working hours it attracts the armature l1 and rocks the shaft 13 to raise the ribbon guide 65 so that the red portion of the ribbon is positioned in line with the printing hammer 24 just prior to the printing'operation.

The printing hammer 24 comprises a channel member in whicha rubber block 8| is fitted. The channel 80 is fastened by a neck member 82 to a pressure plate 83 which, in turn, is carried by the armature 84 of an electro-magnet 85 mounted in a suitable frame 86. The plate 83 also carries a channel-shaped card cutting knife 81 which is arranged to slide over the extension 88 of the previously mentioned switch closing card actuated abutment II. The magnet 85 is energized by the closure of a normally open switch 98 which is operated to a closed circuit position by the plate 39 of the ribbon feed mechanism each time such plate is operated to effect a feeding movement of the ribbon 23. In this connection it will be noted that switch 99 comprises normally separated contacts 9| and 92, the latter being positioned to be engaged by a switch closing insulating bushing 93 carried by one end of the ribbon feed plate 39.

When the printing hammer magnet 85 is energized by closure of switch the armature 84 thereof is moved to the right so that the rubber block 8| is engaged with the card inserted in the card receiver 5 and causes the ruled face of the card and the card engaging portion of the ribbon 23 to be pressed against the type Wheels 66 so that a time impression is printed on said card. At the same time the knife 87 is moved inwardly over the card actuated abutment member I I and clips off a portion of the card so that the notch 2| is thereby deepened in the vertical direction of the card. This deepening of the notch 2| permits the card, during a subsequent insertion thereof, to be moved further downwardly in the card receiver 5 before the upper edge of the notch engages the abutment i I to close the switch 6 and thus ensures that the time impression printed on the card at each insertion thereof will be at a higher level with respect to the previously printed time impression, When the magnet .85 is deenergized upon completion of each printing operation the printing hammer 24 and the cutting knife 81 are returned to their starting position by means of a spring 94 encircling a guide rod 95 which is slidably mounted in the magnet frame 86 and is attached to the pressure plate 83.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when a card 20 is properly inserted in the card receiver 5 the following operations take place. The switches 6 and 1 are both closed and establish circuit connections resulting in the ribbon feed magnet 6| being energized to operate the ribbon feed mechanism previously described so that a fresh portion of the ribbon is fed to a position opposite the printing hammer 24. During the operation of the ribbon feed mechanism the movement of the ribbon feed plate 39 closes the switch 98 and establishes further electrical connections whereby the printing magnet 85 is energized to operate the printing hammer 24 and the card cutting knife 81,

These features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description of the various circuits shown in Fig. 4.

Circuit A (ribbon feed magnet circuit) This circuit is energized by a volt alternating current source 98 connected to the power terminals 99 and I80 and is completed when switches 5 and 1 are closed by the insertion of a card 20 in the card receiver 5. In the closed condition of this circuit current flows through conductor Ia fuse block IOI, conductor I02, switch 1, conductors I03 and I04, terminal I05, ribbon feed magnet 6|, conductor I06, terminal I01, conductor I08, switch 6, conductor I09, contacts H0 and III of relay II2, conductor H3 and fuse block II4 to power terminal I00, thus completing the circuit connections necessary for energizing the ribbon feed magnet 6 I.

Circuit B (printing magnet circuit) This circuit is completed when switch 90 is closed by the feed plate 33 of the ribbon feed mechanism which is actuated by the ribbon feed magnet 6I. In the completed condition of circuit B current flows from power terminal 99 through conductor I00a, fuse block IOI, conductor I02, switch 1, conductors I03 and I04, terminal I05, conductor IIS, switch S0, conductor H9, printing magnet 85, conductors I20 and I09, relay contacts II and III, conductor H3 and fuse block I I4 to power terminal I00, thus completing the circuit connections necessary to energize printing magnet 35 to effect operation of the printing hammer 24 and card cutting knife 81.

Circuit C (relay operating circuit) This circuit is completed when a normally open switch I22 (Figs. 1 and 4) is closed by an arm I23 fixed to the guide rod 94 associated with the printing hammer 24 and the card cutting knife 81. The switch I22 and its operating arm I23 are arranged so that switch I22 is automatically closed each time the hammer 24 and the knife 81 are operated by the printing magnet 85. In the completed condition of circuit C current flows from terminal block 99 through conductor I00a, fuse block IOI, conductor I02, switch 1, conductors I03 and I25, switch I22. conductor I25, relay terminal I21, relay strap I28, relay terminal I29, relay operating coil I30, relay terminal I3I, relay strap I32, relay terminal I33, conductor I I3, and fuse block I I4 to power terminal I00. The completion of this circuit energizes the operating coil I30 of relay II2 so that the normally closed relay contacts I I0 and I II are opened and the normally opened relay contacts I35 and I36 are closed.

Circuit D (relay controlled locking circuit) As will be readily understood from a study of the circuit connections involved in completing circuit C the opening of the relay contacts H0 and II I serves to open circuit the previously established circuits A and B and to establish what may be termed a locking and holding circuit which prevents a second operation of the ribbon feed magnet GI and the printing magnet 85 until the inserted card 20 has been removed from the receiver to permit reopening of the card receiver switches 6 and 1. It will be noted that when the relay contacts H0 and III are opened and the relay contacts I35 and I36 are closed by the aforesaid energization of the relay operating coil 30, the current flows in the holding or looking circuit as follows: From the power terminal 99 through conductor I00a fuse block IOI, conductor I02, switch 1, conductor I03, relay contacts I35 and I36, relay terminal I21, relay strap I28, relay terminals I29, relay operating coil I 30, relay terminal I3I, relay strap I32, relay terminal I33, conductor H3 and fuse block II4 to power terminal I00.

When the card 20 is removed from the receiver 5 the re-opening of switch 1 deenergizes relay coil I30 and thus breaks the holding or locking circuit so that normal circuit conditions are restored.

The energization of the ribbon guide operating magnet 18 (Figs. 3 and 4) is controlled by switches I40 and HI and their associated timing discs I42 and I43. Switch I40 comprises switch contacts I45 and I46 and a switch closing member I41 equipped with a projection I48 arranged to ride the peripheral edge of disc I42. A recess I42a of predetermined length is cut in the periphery of disc I42 and is adapted to receive the projection I48 of switch closing member I41 when disc I42 is rotated to a predetermined position. The spring contacts I45 and I46 of switch I40 are normally biased to a separated or switch opening position but are pressed together to close the switch as long as the extension I48 of the switch closing member I41 is riding the uncut portion of the peripheral edge of disc I 42. In the present instance the recess l42a has been marked with legends indicating that it represents a time interl val of from 12:00 to 12:45. The disc I42 rotates in the direction indicated by the applied arrow I50. When the uncut peripheral edge portion of the disc located at the leading end of the recess I42a passes over and beyond the extension I48 of the switch closing member I41 the switch contacts I45 and I46 separate since the said extension I48 of the switch closing member I41 is then forced into the recess I42a. In the present instance recess I42a is designed so that the extension I48 of switch closing member I41 will enter this recess at 12:00 and at 12:45 will be forced out of the recess sufficiently to reclose the switch I40.

Switch I 4| comprises spring contacts I52 and I53 which are pressed together by the switch operating member I54 when the extension I55 of said switch operating member is riding the peripheral edge portion I56 of the disc I43. Disc I43 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow M311 and is provided with a projection I51 which, as indicated by the associated legends, is made of predetermined length so as to represent a time interval of from 12:30 to 1:01. It will thus be seen that at 12:30 the projection I51 of disc I43 engages and depresses the extension I55 of the switch closing member I54 and thus permits the spring contacts I52 and I53 to spring back to open switch MI. The projection I45 passes out of contact with the extension I51 and permits the said closing member I54 to return to its switch closing position.

The switch 1, ribbon guide operating magnet 18 and the switches I40 and MI are connected in series with each other and in parallel with a signal lamp I58.

In practice the number of recesses I 42a provided in disc I42 and the number of projections I43a provided on disc I43 will depend upon a pro-selected time schedule. In the present instance, for simplicity of description, it is assumed that disc I42 is provided with a single recess MM and that disc I43 is provided with a single pro jection I 43a. With this explanation it will be understood that switch I40 is closed except between 12:00 and 12:45 and that switch MI is closed except between 12:30 and 1:01. With both switches I40 and MI closed as they would be during the employers time, it will be apparent that the closure of switch 1 by the insertion of a card 20 in the receiver will complete the circuit connections necessary to energize the ribbon guide operating magnet 18 and the signal lamp I58. The energization of the magnet 18 causes the ribbon guide 65 to be raised as previously described so that the red portion of the ribbon is elevated into alignment with the printing hammer 24 so that the time impression will be printed on the inserted cardin red, thus indicating that the card was inserted in the receiver during the employers time. The lamp I58 serves as a telltale which also warns the employee that he has inserted his card in the receiver during the cmployers time. In this connection it will be noted that lamp I58 is arranged opposite an elongated aperture I60 provided in the dial I6I of the clock generally indicated at I62. The slot I60 is preferably covered by red transparent material I63 so that the red light shows through this material and illuminates the hour and minute hands of the clock so that the employees attention is definitely directed to the fact that heis registering during his employers time. The hour and minute hands of the clock I62 are operated by an electric clock motor I64 according to the conventional practice followed in connection with the operation of time recorder clocks.

Due to the alternating nature of the current supplied to the magnet 18 the rapid attraction and release of the armature 11 of said magnet also sets up a buzzer effect which serves as a visible warning that the employee is registering during his employers time. The terminals I65 and I66 (Fig. 3) are provided so that remote audible and/or visible signal means located in a timekeepers ofiice may be connected to operate simultaneously with the signal lamp I58 and the buzzer aiiorded by the magnet 18 and its armature 11.

At 12:00 the disc I 42 is rotated to a position such that the extension I48 of switch closing member I41 entersthe recess I42a, thus permitting switch I40 to open and to break the previously described circuit provided for energizing the magnet 18 and the lamp I58. Consequently, if a card is inserted in the receiver 5 at 12:00 it will be printed in blue since the magnet 18 remains deenergize'd and the ribbon guide 65 consequently remains in its'lower position so that the blue portion of the ribbon is in line with the printing hammer 24. At 12:30 the switch MI is also opened by reason of the fact that the projection I51 is engaging and depressing the extension I55 .of the switch operating member I54. At 12:45

switch I 40 is reclosed as previously explained so that when switch MI is subsequently closed at 1:01, the circuit for energizing the magnet 18 will be completed by closure of switch I if a card is inserted in the receiver 5 at 1:01.

The manner in which the switches I40 and MI are connected in circuit with the switch 1, magnet 18 and lamp I58 is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 but may be briefly noted as follows: In the closed condition of switches 1, I40 and MI, the current supplied from the 110 A. C. voltage source 88 flows through conductor I02, switch 1, conductors I03 and I68, switch I40, conductor I69, switch I4I, conductor I10, magnet 18, and conductor IN to fuse block H4. The lamp I58, being connected across conductors I and HI as clearly shown in the drawings, is energized simultaneously with the ribbon guide operating magnet 18.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the hour discs I42 and I43, which time the closing of the previously described ribbon guide magnet circuit, are fixed to'rotate with a collar I16 which is mounted on and driven by the hour shaft I11 0f an electric clock motor I18. The disc I42 (Fig. 3) is provided with positioning holes H217 to receive driving pins I19 carried by the collar I16. Disc I43 is provided with similar positioning holes I43b to receive driving pins I80 carried bythe collar I16. The discs I 42 and I43 are thus removablymounted on the collar I16 so that they may be easily removed and replaced by other discs having the peripheral edges thereof shaped to.provide a different angular arrangement of switch operating recesses and projections for controlling the opening and closing of the switches I40 and HI according to a pre-selected time schedule.

The discs I42 and I43 are also centrally apertured to receive therethrough the hour hand shaft I11 which is a hollow shaft enclosing a minute shaft I8I which carries a disc I82 which is graduated in terms of minutes as compared with the hour disc I42 which is graduated in terms of hours. A suitable pointer I83 is arranged in operative relationto the minute disc I82.

The hour and minute shafts I11 and I8I of the disc driving clock motor I 18 are preferably driven to operate in synchronism with the hour and minute hand shafts of the main clock motor I64. However, it will be understood that the use of synchronous motors for operating the clock I62 and the hour disc I42 and I43 is not an'essential feature since the hour shaft I11 and the minute shaft I8I shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be operated mechanically from the hour and minute shafts of the clock I64.

Having thus described my inventionywhat I claim is:

1. An electric card-printingtime recorder of the card actuated type comprising card-printing mechanism including type-carrying means, a movable printing hammer, biasing means'normally holding said printing hammer in a retracted position opposite said type-carrying means, a ribbon'feed mechanism for feeding successive portions of a printing ribbon to a printing position between the type-carrying means and the printing hammer, normally open cardactuated switch means arranged to be engaged and closed by a card when the latter is inserted in animpression-receiving position between the retracted printing hammer and the printing ribbon,'an 'electro magnet for operating said ribbon feed mechanism, said magnet being connected to a source of current through said normally open card-actuated switch means so as to be'energized only when said switch means is closed by said card, a second magnet for advancing the printing hammer, against the resistance of its biasing means, to a printing position in which it bears against the card interposed therebetween and the printing ribbon and serves to press the card and printing ribbon against the typecarrying means, said second magnet being connected to a source of current through said cardactuated switch means and through a normally open printing hammer control switch and being energized only when both the card-actuated switch and the printing hammer control switch are closed, said ribbon feed mechanism including an element arranged to engage and close said printing hammer control switch immediately following a shifting of the printing ribbon by said ribbon feed mechanism.

2. An electric time recorder as set forth in claim 1, including relay-controlled means for preventing a second operation of the card-printing mechanism until after the card closing the cardactuated switch means has been withdrawn to permit re-cpening of said card-actuated switch means, said relay-controlled means comprising a pair of normally closed relay contacts, a pair of normally open relay contacts, a normally deenergized relay operating coil adapted, when energized, to open said normally closed relay contacts and to close said normally open relay contacts, a normally open relay operating switch connected in series with the relay operating coil, the cardactuated switch means and a source of current so that said coil is initially energized when both the relay operating switch and the card-actuated switch means are in closed circuit condition, said normally closed relay contacts being connected in series with the card-actuated switch means and the operating magnets of the ribbon feed mechanism and the printing hammer so that the separation of said normally closed relay contacts serves to open circuit said magnets and to maintain the open circuit condition of the magnets until said relay contacts are permitted to reclose by deenergization of said coil, said normally open relay contacts being connected to a source of current in series with said card-actuated switch means and said coil and serving, when closed by said coil, to maintain a closed circuit for said coil until the card is withdrawn to permit deenergization of the coil by the re-opening of the cardactuated switch contacts, and an element carried by the printing hammer adapted to close the relay operating sWitch during movement of the printing hammer to its printin position and to permit re-opening of the relay operating switch during return movement of the printing hammer to retracted position under the influence of the printing hammer biasing means.

3. An electric time recorder as set forth in claim 1 including lock-out means for preventing a second operation of the carding-printing mechanism unti1 after the card closing the cardactuated switch means has been withdrawn to permit reopening of said card-actuated switch means, said lock-out means including a normally open lock-out switch, a switch operatin element carried by said printing hammer adapted to engage and close said lock-out switch during movement of the printing hammer to its printing position and to permit reopening of the lock-out switch during return movement of the printing hammer to retracted position under the influence of the printing hammer biasing means, and circuit controlling devices operating, in response to closure of said lock-out switch, to open the energizing circuits of the ribbon feed magnet and the printing hammer magnet and to maintain the open-circuit condition of said magnets while the card-actuated switch means is held closed by said card, said circuit controlling devices being operable to re-establish normal circuit conditions in response to reopening of said cardactuated switch means.

4. An electric card-printing time recorder comprising a card receiver, a card-printing mechanism including electrically actuated printing elements and a pair of normally open card-actuated operating switches through which said printing elements are connected to a source of current so that both switches must be closed to effectively operate the printing mechanism, a pair of card.- engaging switch closing members arranged in said receiver so that both members are operated to close said switches when a card, having a corner portion cut away to provide a notch, is correctly inserted in the receiver with the notched end down and the notch positioned adjacent a predetermined side of the receiver, one of said switch-actuating members being mounted for limited vertical movement from an elevated inoperative position to a lower switch closing position and being located so that it is engaged and depressed by the upper wall of said notch when the card is correctly inserted in the receiver, the other switch closing member being mounted for horizontal movement from an inoperative position to a switch closing position and being located so that it is engaged and operated to its switch closing position by the side edge portion of the card remote from the notch when the card is correctly inserted in the receiver, said last mentioned switch operating member being arranged so that it is accommodated in said notch without operating its associated switch when the card is incorrectly inserted in the receiver with the notched end down but with the notch disposed adjacent the wrong side of the receiver.

5. An electric card-printing time recorder as set forth in claim 4, in which one of the printing elements comprises a card-engaging printing hammer movable across the card receiver during the card-printing operation and a card cutter movable across the receiver with said printing hammer and adapted to clip off a portion of the card so that said notch is thereby deepened in the vertical direction of the card to permit the card, during a subsequent insertion thereof, to be moved further downwardly in the card receiver before the upper edge of the notch engages the underlying switch actuating member.

ALBERT J. FINDLAY. 

